Method of and machine for knitting fabric



Nov. 30, 1937. w. COLEMAN METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR KNITTING FABRIC s Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1936 INVENTOR WILLIAM COLEMAN BY HlS ATTORNEYS Nov. 30, 1937.

W, COLEMAN METHOD OF AND MACHINE IfOR KNITTING FABRIC Filed 06;. 20, 1936 III! 11.

INVENT OR WILLIAM COLEMAN BY HIS ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 30, 1937. m w. COLEMAN 2,100,941

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR KNITTING FABRIC 7 Filed Oct. 20, 1936 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM COLEMAN BY HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 30, 1937. w. COLEMAN 2,100,941

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR KNITTINGFABRIC Filed Oct. 20, 1936 5 SheetsSheet 4 T A20 /7 7 f7 lNVENTOR WILLIAM COLEMAN BY HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 30, 1937. w. COLEMAN 2,100,941

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR KNITTING FABRIC Filed Oct. 20, 1936 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 46 35 g 3 M v 39 INVENTOR WILLIAM COLEMAN BY HIS ATTORNEYS METHQD or Ann PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR KNITTING FABRIC William Coleman, Johnson City, Tenn., asslgnor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 20, 1936, Serial Nor 106,673

10 Claims.

This invention relates to circular knitting ma= chines and the product thereof and more particularly to circular knitting machines for knitting stockings having ribbed fabric insteps and legs and plain fabric tops and it is an object of this invention to provide a circular knitting machine having means for animproved method of operation in the transfer of the loops from the dial needles to the cylinder needles at the change from rib to plain fabric. It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved stocking having a ribbed fabric instep and leg and a plain fabric top with elastic threads laid or knit therein.

In the drawings l5 Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the cylinder and dial needles.

the cylinder needle jacks and operating cams for the cylinder needles and jacks, the various parts being positioned as during the knitting of the 20 course-of ribbed fabric immediately prior to the transfer;

Figure 2 is a partial diagrammatic view similar to Figure 1, but showing the position of the parts during transfer;

Figure 3 is a partial diagrammatic view similar to Figure 1 but showing the position of the parts during the knitting of the plain fabric top with a rubber thread laid in;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view show- 30 ing portions of several courses of loops before,

during and after transfer;

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary enlarged views showing in elevation and plan, respectively, the v relation of the loops and the cylinder and dial needles during transfer;

Figures 7 and 8 are views in plan and elevation, respectively, of cams for operating the cylinder needles during the transfer and several preceding courses and the operating means for the cams;

Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary views of cylinder needles used, Figure 9 showing a needle with a butt of normal size and Figure 10 showing a needle with a butt partially cut away at the bottom to delay raising the needle;

45 Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of a stocking manufactured in accordance with this invention; Figure 12 is a broken plan view showing the operating means for the jack operating cam for the needles engaging the elastic yarn, other parts 50 of the machine being omitted;

Figure 13 is a view in elevation of an operating cam of the operating means shown in Figure 12,

'and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary-view in elevation 5 showing the manner of controlling the operating means of Figure 12 by a push rod operated from the main pattern drum.-

In the drawings the invention is shown applied toa ribbed fabric hosiery knitting machine, such 60 as is shown in the patent to Scott No. 1,641,554,

issued September 6th, 1927,. and as in that machine, the stocking is knit beginning at the toe and comprises a ribbed fabric instep and leg.L and a plain fabric top W which, however, is modified by the insertion of a elastic thread R which is engaged at spaced wa es in spaced courses. The transfer from the ribbed to the plain fabric takes place at T and, if desired, a different yarn may be introduced for the knitting of the top a few courses prior to the change from ribbed fabric to plain fabric.

In the drawings there is shown only so much of the structure of the Scott patent referred to as is necessary to illustrate this invention. The dial needles d, preferably constructed as shown in the Scott Patent No. 1,641,101, issued August 30th, 1927, are shown in Figures 1 and 2 arranged with the cylinder needles N so as to knit a 4 1 ribbed fabric. The cylinder needles have jacks under alternate needleathe needles n immediately following the dial needles and the needles n being without jacks, while the needles 1;. and n are provided with jacks. The jacks are provided with long and short butts in alternation. The cylinder needles are also provided with the usual long and short butts which cooperate with the knitting cams 36B, 357, 36! and i; the needles n -having their butts cut away at the bottom so that when raised, as by cam 25, they are not raised as soon as or to the same extent as the needles n in advance thereof. The cam 25 is made adjustable in order to time the raising of the needles with respect to the operation of the cast-,oii portion of the dial needles d. during transfer. The dividing cam 4, the draw down cam 8 and the jack operating earn 366 are also provided. In addition to these cams there is provided a jack operating cam 390 which is arranged to be inserted partially so as to operate only the long butt jacks. The long butt jacks can be positioned to operate either of the jack operated needles. .The cam 380 is operated to engaging position by means of a spring 30 secured to the bedplate B and which engagesia pin 3| fixed in the outer end of the cam carrier 32. The cam carrier 32 is slidably mounted on the bedplate B and has the cam 380 secured to its inner end. A lever 33 pivotally mounted on a pin 36 secured to the bedplate B a has one arm engaged with the pin ill on the cam carrier 32 and the other arm connected by a link 85 to a crank 36 fixed on a shaft 31. The shaft push rod it is positioned to be engaged by a cam d2 fixed on a gear wheel 53 secured to a shaft 44 journalled in the machine frame A. The gear wheel 53 engages a gear 45 secured on the main drive shaft (not shown) and the ratio of the gears is such that gear 43 makes one revolution for every four revolutions of the needle cylinder. The cam 42 is of such a length as to support the push rod during the period of three revolutions of the needle cylinder and to leave it unsupported during the period of one revolution and the lever arrangement is such that when the push rod is supported by the cam 42 the cam 380 is held out by the lever 33 and when the push rod 4Q is not supported by the cam 42 the cam carrier 32 is moved inwardly carrying the cam 380 to its operative position. This arrangement causes thecam 380 to be placed in its operative position during every fourth course but in order to prevent the cam 380 being placed in operative position when not desired the shaft 31 is provided with an arm 45 positioned to be engaged by a projection 41 on a push rod Mil.- The push rod is operated by a cam or cams (not shown) on the main pattern drum I20 arranged to hold the push rod in elevated position at such time or times as it is desired to keep the cam 380 out of operative position continuously. In the present case, the push rod 46l will be held in raised position at all times,

except during the knitting of the plain fabric top at which time the push rod is in its lowered position and the position of. cam 380 is controlled by cam 42 on gear wheel 43.

There is also provided a draw down cam 310 which is arranged to draw down the needles to 'a greater extent than usual and is slidably mounted in a guide II) on the bed plate B. The cam 310 is provided with a projection to which is pivotally connected one end of a link l2, the other end of which link is pivotally connected to an end of a lever I 4 pivotally mounted on a bracket I 5 attached to the base plate B. The other end of the lever l4 projects into position to be engaged by a cam l6 attached to the push rod 460 which operates the dial transfer cam (not shown) so that the cam 31!] and the dial transfer cam are operated simultaneously. The push rod 460 is operated by cam I22 on the main patterndrum I20. The cam 4 is operated through rod 20 by a push rod or lever, not shown, from a pattern 'drum,, in the usual manner.

During the knitting of the foot and leg the operation is as shown in the patent to Scott No. 1,641,554. At a point a couple of courses prior to the transfer from ribbedsto plain fabric the dividing cam 4 is inserted drawing down all the cylinder needles, but the alternate cylinder needles n and n being provided with jacks are raised upon the operation of the jacks by the cam 366 to pass over the leading stitch cam 360 to take and knit the body yarn in the usual manner. The remaining cylinder needles n and- 11- pass below the leading stitch cam 360 and the center knitting cam l which is, at this time, in a raised position so that these needles do not take the .yarn and knit.

Drawing down the cylinder needles n immediately following the dial needles so as to keep these needles from taking and knitting the yarn in a couple of courses prior to the transfer course causes the loops knit by the dial needles to extend between the needles n and n, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and as each dial needle loop tends to center itself between the cylinder are not raised as soon or as high as the other needles and serve to retain some tension on the dial needle loops, drawing these loops to the left so that as the needles n are raised they engage in the dial needle loops of the previous course before the needles n are raised far enough to release the tension on the dial needle loops. The dial transfer cam having been inserted simultaneously with the cam 310 the dial needles d are withdrawn leaving the dial needle loops on the cylinder needles 12 immediately following the dial needles. The dividing cam 4 is withdrawn following the insertion of the cam 310. As in the transfer operation in the Scott Patent No. 1,641,554, the cam 3,10 and the dial transfer cam are maintained in operative positions during a plurality of courses so as to insure the transfer of the dial needle loops to the cylinder needles. Upon completion of the transfer the cam 310 and the dial transfer 8am are withdrawn and the jack operating cam 380 and the needle operating cam 38! are inserted and simultaneously therewith the rubber yarn guide F is operated to present the elastic thread R to the needles, the cam 38!] being inserted only far enough to engage the long buttjacks. As only the alternate Jacks have long butts these long butt jacks are beneath every fourth needle and when operated position their needles to be raised by the cam 38! to take the rubber thread at the yarn guide The yarn guide F feeds the rubber thread belowthe latches of the raised needles so the rubber thread is held down as the cam 25 raises the remaining needles. The remaining needles when raised by the cam 25 pass in front of the rubber threaiil' so that when the needles are operated by the stitch cams 360, 351, 36l to take and knit the body yarn the elastic thread is not knitted in but is engaged with the loops of the plain fabric at every fourth wale. The cam 380 is inserted for every fourth course and left. in'xoperative position throughout the course so that the elastic ';thread is engaged with the plain fabric loops in every fourth course. Where it is desired to knit in the elastic thread at the spaced needles in the courses in which it is introduced the cam 38l s not used and the needles taking the elastic t cad retain it in their hooks when the needles are operated by the stitch cams to knit the elastic thread as well as the body yarn. With the introduction of the elastic thread the dial is raised to increase the spacing between the dial and cylinder to provide for the passage of the fabric-containing the elastic thread. The top containing the elastic thread is knit of the desired length and the yarns then withdrawn and the fabric pressed off in the usual manner.

The fabric in the region of the tra'nsfercourse is as shown in Fig. 5 in which course I and 2 are of rib fabric the wales I to 9, inclusive, beginning at the left, being knit by cylinder needles n n dial needle d, cylinder needles n n n n dial needle d, and cylinder needle 11 respectively. Courses 3 and 4 are the courses prior to the transfer course in which the needles n and n in wales 2, 5 and I are drawn down and do not take the body yarn. While both needles n and n are arranged to miss the body yarn this is 7 because the same arrangement is used in the starting up course. It is only necessary that the aioaoar needle 11 immediately following each dial needle be caused to miss the body yarn. In 2x1 rib, every other cylinder needle would need to miss the body yarn. Course is the transfer course in which the dial needle loops in wales 3 and d are transferred to the cylinder needles knitting wales 2 and 7, it being assumed the transfer is cooperating in the knitting of rib i.al: ric, carn completed in the one course. In this transfer thecyhnder needles n engage in the dial needle loops of course 3 and the dial needle loops of course l when cast oh the dial needles tend to straighten out but are held by the needle n along with the dial needle loops of course 3. Courses 6 and l are plain fabric courses prior to the introduction of the elastic thread. In the courses in which the elastic yarn is included the elastic yarn is fed under such tension that the fabric of the completed top is contracted by the elastic yam" to form continuous ribs extending lengthwise of the stocking and giving the plain fabric top substantially the appearance of- ,a ribbed fabric with the ribs thereof forming continuatlons of the ribs of the fabric of the stock= course prior to transfer from. rib to plain mittlng and a cam operating the cylinder needles durin the transfer course prior to transfer to stretch the loops of the previously knit course, the butts on the cylinder needles immediately following the inactive needles being arranged to delay the raising of said needles to hold the dial loops stretched during transfer thereof to the inactive needles 2. In a. knitting machine for knitting rib and plain fabric and having dial'and cylinder needles means rendering inactive the cylinder needles immediately following the dial needles during the course prior to transfer from rib to plain knitting and cam means operating cylinder needles to stretch the dial needle loops for engagement by the inactive cylinder needles during the transfer.

course.

3. In a. knitting machine for knitting rlband plain fabric and having dial and cylinder needles v transfer course. r

cooperating in the knitting of rib fabric, cam means rendering inactive the cylinder needles immediately following the dial needles duringthe course prior to transfer from rib to plain knitting and cam means operating the cylinder needles immediately following theinactive cylinder needles to stretch the dial needle loops for engagement by the inactive needles during the 4. In a knitting machine for knitting cooperating in the knitting of rib fabric, com

means rendering inactive during the course prior to transfer from rib to plain knitting the cylinder needles which take the dial needle loops, a cam operating the remaining cylinder and I plain fabric and having dial and cylinder needles needles during previous course prior to transfer and butts on the cylinder needles following the cylinder needles taking the dial needle loops delaying the raising of said needles to hold the dial needle loops 5 stretched during transfer.

5. in a knitting machine for knitting rib and plain fabric and having dial and cylinder needles the transfer course to stretch the loops of the T cooperating in the knitting of rib fabric, cam means rendering inactive during the course prior 10 to transfer from rib to plain knitting the cylinder needles which take the dial needle loops, caxn means drawing down the remaining cylinder needles during the transfer course to stretch the loops of the previous course prior to the transl5 "fer point and means operating cylinder needles so the dial needle loops are held stretched while being taken by the cylinder needles.

6. In a knitting machine foi knitting rib and plalnfabric and having dial and cylinder needles 20 cooperating in the knitting of rib fabric, cam means rendering inactive the cylinder needles im ediately following the dial needles during the course prior to transfer from rib to plain knitting and a cam operating the cylinder needles to 25 stretch the lchps thereon during the transfer course prior to the transfer of the dial needle loops.

H. In a knitting machine for knitting rib andplain fabric and having dial and cylinder needles 0 cooperating in the knitting of rib fabric, said needles having butts for operation'thereof, cam ,means rendering. inactive the cylinder needles immediately following the dial needles during the'course prior to transfer from rib to plain as knitting and a cam operating the cylinder needles to stretch the loops thereon during the transfer 1 course prior to the transfer of the dial needle loops, the butts on the cylinder needles following the inactive needles being arranged to delay the 40 raising of those needles while the inactive needles engage the previously knit dial loops.

8. In a knitting machine for knitting rib andplain fabric and having dial and cylinder needles cooperating in the knitting 'of rib fabric, cam means rendering inactive during the course prior I to transfer from crib to plain knitting the cylinder needles which take the'dial needle loops and cam means operating cylinder needles to hold the dial needle loops stretched while being taken by the cylinder needles during the transfer course. v

9. In a method of changing from the knitting of ribbed fabric to the knitting of plain fabric in a dial and cylinder machine, the steps of 5 rendering inactive the cylinder needles immedl: 'ately succeeding. the dial needles, drawing down all cylinder needles to stretch the loops of the previous course, delaying the raising of the needles immediately succeeding the inactive needles so while the inactive needles take dial ne'edle loops and casting of! the loops from the dial needles.

10. In a method of changing from the knitting of ribbed fabric to the knitting of plain fabric-1n av dial and cylinder-machine. the steps of drawing down all cyllnder'needles to stretch'the loops of the previous course, delaying the raising of the needles immediately following the needles taking the dial loops while the dial loops are taken and casting needles.

I wmnuconmm.

of! the loops from tho disl i 

